The crowning moment of my career — groom of Excessive Force
THE victory by Excessive Force in the inaugural staging of the ultra-rich Mouttet Mile (invitational) on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Caymanas Park made many people happy. Chief among the celebration party is groom Devon Biggs.
Trained by Philip Feanny and ridden by jockey Bebeto Harvey, Excessive Force (Broken Vow – Fevered Kiss) came with a thunderous run along the inside rails in deep stretch to win the three-year-old and upwards Graded Stakes contest over one mile (1,600m) by a length and a quarter.
Excessive Force won ahead of Duke (Allen Maragh) and Jordon Reign’s (Tevin Foster) in a time of 1:41.1.
“Well, it was an overwhelming feeling to win the richest race in the entire Caribbean region. I am very happy; I am probably the happiest man alive at the moment. Hard work and dedication paid off so you must feel nice in the end,” Biggs told The Supreme Racing Guide.
“Excessive Force performed really well. He had a top weight of 57.0 kg (126 lb) and ran very well to beat his competitors. This victory means a lot. This is the crowning moment of my career.” He added.
Biggs said that his charge came out of the Mouttet Mile in fine fettle.
“Excessive Force came out of the race in good shape; he ate out well and he is happy as well. I have groomed horses like Kipling Weekend but Excessive Force tops everyone. Excessive Force is the best horse I have groomed so far in my career.
“He is a very nice horse; he is easy to groom and whatever the task is, he is going to do it. He has everything.
“There is the Ian Levy Cup coming up and so maybe that is where he is headed — I can’t say, but I would like to go there. I love this horse,” said Biggs.
Biggs stated that following Excessive Force‘s victory in the $2.5-million Port Royal Sprint on Saturday, November 12, 2022, he was confident that his charge had a winning shot in the Mouttet Mile.
“Well, that was a big run. Coming off a break and running 1:12.1, which is not a normal time, Excessive Force did really well, and he also defeated lighter weighted rivals in the process. That [Port Royal] was a very important run; it was like a blowout run for the Mouttet Mile and he delivered, and I am happy for him.
Biggs said while he has yet to win a Classic race, he has no regrets about choosing a profession in the racing industry.
“I have horses run in the Classics but didn’t win but guess what? I won the Mouttet Mile and that’s all that matters right now. I began grooming horses in the 1990s and my first winner was Stud Poker with Winston Griffiths in the saddle, and I felt like I had won a big race because of the type of rider.
“I came into racing and went straight to Philip Feanny’s stables. Since I was a boy growing up I was under his wings and, to tell you the truth, I have learned a lot from him. Feanny takes care of his staff and everyone well, and I must give him thanks for everything he has done for me over the years. I have won over 50 races and so I have no regrets being here,” Biggs ended.